Car-coupling



(No Model.)

i W. O. STETLER n-J. W. KLINGLER.

CAR COUPLING. N0. 359,904. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

I.' -f v Y UNITED STATES PATENr Orrion.

wWELLINGTON O. STETLER, OF BEAVERTOW'N, AND J. 7WILLIAM KLINGLER, OF MIDDLE CREEK, ASSIGNORS F ONE-THIRD TO ANTHONY C. SIMPSON, OF SELINS GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPUNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,904, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed January 11, 1887. Serial No. 224,033. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, WELLiNGroN O. S'rnr- LER. and J. WILLIAM KLINGLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Beavertown and Middle Creek, in the county of Snyder, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to ear-couplers; and the object of the invention is to provide a coupler that will present the link thereof in a horizontal position to an approaching drawi 5 head, that willautomatically Couple, and which shall prevent, to a great extent, the wearing of the link and pin one upon the other.

With these general objects in view the invention consists in Certain features of conzo struction hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a coupler constructed in accordance with our invention, the same being illustrated as coupled to a link. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same, and Fig. 3 is a substantially vertical sec-tion, showing the parts in their relative position for coupling. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a catch employed for releasing the 3o coupling-pin support, and Fig. 5 is apei-speetive of thespring-buifer inverted.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

A represents the draw-head, which may be f any usual and well-known construction, it eing formed with the chamber A.

Vithin the chamber A is a buffer-block, B, the front face of which is coneaved or cupshaped, as at B', and provided with a pin-re- 4o ceiving recess, B2. The top and bottom of this buffer may, if desired, be provided with guiding-fiangcs B3 B", adapted to embrace the sides of the draw-head.

Interposed between the rear end of the louffer and rear Wall of the recess A (its ends bearing in recesses B5 Al in the buffer and draw-head, respectively) is acoiled spring, C, the tendeneyof which is to force the buffer -arms D', the cross-bar D2, and the lifting bail or loop D3. Itis not necessary for the function this catch-frame is to perform that it be spring pressed; but in this instance We have arranged a dat spring, DL, upon the top ol the drawhead, so as to bear upon the cross-bar D2 thereof. If desired, however, it is evident that the frame may be formed with Coils ator near its 6o journals. The catching-arms D extend down, one at eaeh side of the draw-head, and rest upon seats or recessed portions formed in the upper portion of the buffer and at eat-h side thereof.

'The arms D may fall by gravity alone, if desired.

The draw-head is provided with the usual pin-holes, A5, at its top and bottom, and in this instance With a pin-gniding plate, A, per- 7o foi-ated for the reception of the pin, as at A7.

The operation of theinvention is as follows: Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, which, as before stated,shows the relative arrangement of the parts when in the aet of coupling, the link E enters the draw-head in the usual manner and comes in Contact with the front face of the buffer B, which, being yieldingly pressed forward against the shoulders of the draw-head, is forced to the rear by said link. 8o This aet withdraws the buffer from under the pin F, which, falling by gravity, drops into the link, and the cars are coupled. Now comes an important feature of our invention. The buffer is forced back sufficiently to disengage itself from the catching-arms D of the frame D, and by reason of these being spring-pressed (or it may be by gravity alone) they drop to the position shown in Fig. l, interposing themselves in front of the buffer, and thereby prego venting the spring C from forcing the same up against the end of the link and the link against the pin, whereby the two are constantly prevented rom wearing and binding upon each other, as is usually the case where a spring-'95 buffer alone is employed. This also allows sufficient room for the link to work in While the cars are in motion.

Another advantage of ourinvention is, that by elevating the frame by its bail or a cord or chain attached thereto the buffer will be released, and will be forced by the spring to the front and against the end of the link; and by this movement of the parts the link will be caught and held firmly in a horizontal posi` tion, whereby it is sure to enter a companion draw-head of an approaching car.

By reason of the peculiar formation of the concaved bu'i'er the link of an approaching car strikes against and is guided .directly to its center and under the path of the pin, Whichlwhen released,as before described, positively enters the link and couples the cars.

Having described our invention and its operation, what We claim is-V l. The combination of a drawhead recessed and provided with a buffer, a spring interposed between the buffer and draw-head, and devices for retaining the buffer in a compressed or locked position free from Contact with the link and pin, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a draw-head recessed and provided with a buffer, a spring interposed betWeen the buffer and draw-head, and spring-arms mounted ou the draw-head and arranged to lock the buffer in a compressed position free from contact with the link and pin, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of adraW-head, recessed as shown, with a spring-pressed `buffer having guiding-flanges at its sides, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a d raw-head, recessed as shown, with aspring-pressed buffer having guiding-{langes at its sides and recessed seats, and with a catchingframe mounted upon the draw-head and adapted to retain the buffer in a compressed orlocked position, substantially l as specified.

5. The combination of the draw-head A, re-

ccssed, as at A A?, the buffer B, recessed, as at B2 B, and the spring C, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of a draw-head, A, re-

cessed, as at A', and having the buffer B, and 1 lSC? l upon the top of the draw-head and provided l spring C, with the catchingframe D, mounted VELLINGTON ,0. STETLER. J VILLIAM KLINGLER.

lVitnesses:

FRANK E; SIMrsoN, CARRIE B; SrMPsoN. 

